I’m pretty new here. I am very early in the MS journey.
When did you first notice brain fog, issues with you thinking, memory, etc.?
I am already having problems, especially at work. I am a high school foreign language teacher and keeping up with lesson plans, grading, and the other normal administrative tasks is overwhelming. It’s only October and even with more than 20 years of teaching experience I feel as though I am barely treading water.
I’m forgetful and missing details that I would normally not miss. I completely missed filling out a report that was rather important last week! I lose my train of thought. I open my laptop and forget what I’m supposed to be doing, even something simple as taking attendance.
Please tell me this might get better. I have not yet started any medications. Thank you so much.
-Ruth
A person who has recently received a life changing diagnosis and is going through the difficult business of assimilating that is likely to be suffering from chronically-elevated stress levels and cognitive overload. So there is that to consider, before you even start to wonder what if any direct role MS activity might be playing in how well or otherwise you’re doing just now.
Hi Ruth and really sorry to hear of your difficulties. You have my sympathies. My experience is that brain fog/ cognitive difficulties didn’t start for some 12 years or so. However, as Alison says for some months after diagnosis it was hard to concentrate on much and then over the next months I started feeling anxious and depressed. The anxiety/ depression just crept up slowly - no sudden big crisis - and looking back I wasn’t really able to concentrate on things or give them my full attention. Couldn’t get excited or motivated about much. Is it possible that you are experiencing something similar?
My MS lesions are predominantly in my brain with only 2 lesions on my spine. I have been on Tysabri for 11 months now.
Just before i started it, life was very hard in a way that people didn’t get and honestly still don’t. Just giving the correct amount of cash to the supermarket cashier was difficult, should I give her coins or notes? Have I given her enough? Two fivers or the ten pound note? Several times they would look at me confused, giving me money back because I had given them way too much and on an few occasions I opened my purse and asked them to take what was needed. I couldn’t take my vitamin D tablet at the same time as giving my dog their tablet, as a few times I almost took a Yumove joint tablet. I would set out to drive to a very familiar place, only to get to the roundabout and have to go round 3 times to remember which was the right exit. When applying for my medical license, they sent it back 3 times because I had missed bits, even though I thought I had read it through. It was exhausting and ruined my confidence.
However, things are better now. Although my short term memory is bad at times and will never be the same, I’m not as easily confused as I used to be. I just had to learn to slow down a little and think things through a little more. Auto pilot is not an option for a lot of stuff because of my forgetfulness. For example locking up the house to go to work. If I do it on autopilot, i will be paranoid all day that I forgot to lock the door, turn off the hair straighteners, unplug the phone charger etc etc. So I have to consciously think about what I am doing as I do it so I know it’s done right.
It will get better, but you may have to change the way you work in order to accommodate any changes that have occurred. Slow down a bit, don’t rush anything, even when you are under pressure, take your time, think it through, no more autopilot on something that matters to you. You will do better and this will in turn help your confidence levels.
No, I’m not feeling any depression or any more lack of motivation. It’s truly just that I have a lot on my plate, and feel like concentration, focus, and being able to complete tasks well has been problematic. As someone whose entire career has been teaching language, forgetting or stumbling over words is devastating even when it’s just a little mistake.
I am very early in the MS journey.